Interview Questionaire

I get bored with the usual interview process so I decided to try a few different questions. Suggestions for addition or improvements are welcome!

1 -	Do you know what our firm is and what we do? (Circle one answer)
			Yes
			No
		If your answer is "Yes", then explain below what our firm is and does.
		If your answer is "No", then explain why you were too lazy to look it up.
2 -	Do you know what the positions you applied for entails? (Circle one answer)
			Yes
			No
		If your answer is "Yes", then give description below.
		If your answer is "No", then explain why you are bothering to apply.
3 -	Why would we chose you over the other applicants? (Circle one answer)
		A -	Snappy dresser.
		B -	You deserve it.
		C -	You don't know.
		D -	You feel that you're very qualified.
		If your answer is "D", then give description of qualifications.
		If your answer is other than "D", then give an explanation of favorable trait.
4 -	Tell me how you handled a stressful situation that occurred on your last job.
		(Circle one answer)
		A -	I cried a lot.
		B -	I don't feel stress.
		C -	I went home.
		D -	None of the above.
		If your answer is "D", then give description of what you did.
		If your answer is other than "D", then give an explanation of actions.
5 -	I see you program in MS Access. How would you link an indexed field variable
	to display on mouseover?
		(Circle one answer)
		A -	I don't have mice.
		B -	I don't like mice.
		C -	This is a trick question as a mouseover is like getting a perm.
		D -	None of the above.
		If your answer is "D", then give a brief description of how to do it.
		If your answer is other than "D", give some explanation that might amuse us.
6 -	Which co-worker at your last job did you get along with least well?
		(Circle one answer)
		A -	Supervisor
		B -	Co-Worker
		C -	Father
		D -	None of the above.
		Give explanation of why you did not get along.
7 -	What did you do about the person you did not get along with?
		(Circle one answer)
		A -	Swore and spat
		B -	Cried a lot
		C -	Told my father
		D -	None of the above.
		If your answer is "D", then give a brief description of how you alleviated the situation.
		If your answer is other than "D", explain how this helped.
8 -	What best describes your sense of humor?
		(Circle one answer)
		A -	Good.
		B -	I laugh all the time.
		C -	Warped
		D -	I have none, it was surgically removed.
		If your answer is "D", then no explanation is required.
		If your answer is other than "D", give examples.
9 -	Do you know what the meaning of the following acronyms are?
	USPSA; IDPA; ACTS; ICORE; IPSC
		(Circle one answer)
			Yes
			No
		If your answer is "No", then no explanation is required.
		If your answer is "Yes", explain which is your favorite and why.
10 -	Are you familiar with the cartoon "Dilbert"?
		(Circle one answer)
			Yes
			No
	How would you define the cartoon "Dilbert"?
		(Circle one answer)
		A -	I don't find it funny.
		B -	I like it.
		C -	It is just a cartoon and most are not funny.
		D -	It is an inspirational insight to the engineering world.
		If your answer is "No", then no explanation is required.
		If your answer is "Yes", further explain your answer.

Turkey Will Never Be the Same

Our lodge had its installation of officers and Christmas dinner on Thursday. My task was to provide dinner for about thirty people. I went down to the Basha’s Deli and ordered a veggie tray, and antipasto tray, and one Holiday Feast. The Holiday Feast consists of a turkey, a ham, various sides and two pies. I will have to confess my ignorance here as when I was ordering this, I actually thought that the Feast came hot. I arrived promptly at 5 PM to pick up my goodies for the 6 PM meal. Whoops! This all comes cooked but cold. Apparently all is cooked ahead of time, frozen, and thawed for your convenience. I am screwed as it takes about 1 ½ hour to heat everything up. Dinner will be late. It would be nice if they let people know that little fact when ordering it. Oh well, live and learn.

While racing down to lodge, I am thinking fine thoughts about how I have just screwed up the Christmas dinner. I decided that we could get everything in the ovens as there is a kitchen there, snack on the veggie and antipasto trays, go do our installation, and then come back down for the main dinner.

It! Could! Work! Relief, at least there is a plan. A couple of the brothers were waiting for someone to unlock when I arrived. I even have willing (or drafted) volunteers! Things are looking better. We hauled everything to the kitchen and started our preparations. We slid the ham out of the packaging, put it into a pan and slid put it in the oven. We then opened the package the turkey was in. The stench that filled the entire kitchen was impressive. This baby was really, really rank.

I remember one year dove hunting that I did not clean the birds in the field. The dove came home and were cleaned in the backyard. I deposited the carcasses and entrails in the garbage can. A couple of days later, I came around the corner to the fragrance of dead birds. Now this is Arizona, so a little heat and time to do magical things to raw flesh that will provide some of the most memorable olfactory experiences. The turkey was worse. The bird was so strong that it must have been very ripe prior to being frozen. There is no way that the bird gained the elevated status of “exceptional olfactory revulsion” during the thawing period. So much for plan “B”. I am screwed as we don’t have enough food. I hate having two stressful moments in less than an hour.

The turkey got put in a metal pan and covered with tin foil to keep the aroma from escaping any further. Exhaust fans went on and we continued with prepping the side dishes into the oven. I explained to people what had occurred as they arrived. Our event was not a failure as it turned out we had enough food with the ham, sides, veggie/antipasto platters, pies and cookies. My better half brought a huge plate of Christmas cookies. We actually had a nice evening.

The remaining food was packed up and the dishes were taken care of. Our chores were not too bad as we used the “good china”. This is our reference to paper plates and plastic utensils. Now we go back to that nasty turkey. It was carefully placed in a garbage bag as you really did not want this thing to leak in your vehicle. I decided to put the whole thing in a metal serving pan just in case it did leak and off to Basha’s I went. You could smell that thing right through the bag so I traveled with the windows open regardless of the outside temperature.

I carefully carried the precious cargo into Bashsa’s about 10 PM and asked for the manager. She arrived and looked with suspicion at my cargo resting on the service counter. I still had a jacket and tie on which does tend to help in these situations. She inquired how she could help me and what was in the bag that smelled so bad. I politely informed her that it was the turkey from the “feast” picked up that day and asked if she wanted me to untie the bag so she could get a peek at it. She firmly answered “No! I can smell it through the bag”. I had saved my receipt for her perusal. She actually called the deli manage at home as she was unsure what to refund as it was a package deal. There was an irritated manner about her after she returned from talking to the deli manager that did not seem pointed in my direction. The deli manager thought that only the price of the turkey should be refunded and the night manager thought that was inadequate. We settled on half the cost of everything. I can’t say how many times the night manager apologized to me and said how embarrassing this was. She was very professional. I told her that she need not apologize anymore and asked her a question that I already know the answer to. Don’t you just hate having to apologize for someone else’s actions that you had no control over? She finally smiled.

Some mischievous person said that it would only be proper to place the turkey on the deli manager’s desk and close the door. The deli manager should not be deprived of appreciating some of the department’s handy-work.  The night manager laughed, took the bag, and told me she would be right back.

I feel that the refund was adequate but that this could not be let slide. I felt that the deli manager’s attitude might need further adjustment. Thanks heavens the turkey smelled as bad as it did. If it had just been a bit tainted, we probably would not have known and eaten it. There would have been one group of sick people and some of the group is elderly.

My complaint is that the food handling procedures are so poor that this even happened. This turkey had to be rank before it was ever frozen and thawed for me. Basha’s should be ashamed that their employees find this type of process acceptable. A strong note was sent to the store’s general manager through corporate and a health department complaint has been lodged.

Turkey anyone? I know where you can get a Holiday Feast but don't use my name as a reference!

OK - I Will Join the 1st Car Meme - Very Late

The meme is on for what is/was your first car. I am inspired by In Jennifer's Head and The Smallest Minority.
It does take me a while to get inspired but nonetheless here we go! When I was growing up we were very poor. How poor you ask? Toys were almost non-existent, you had zucchini for three meals a day when it was in season, you were happy you got three meals in the same day, and the dog got nervous every year at Thanksgiving. Heck, mom cut the pockets out of our pants so that we would have something to play with. We used to sing songs to amuse ourselves as only the rich folks had radios and TVs. Rain water was stored to serve for plant watering and washing kids on Saturday night. Sing along - you know the tune!

Oh, it ain't gonna rain no more, no more
It ain't gonna rain no more
How in the heck can I wash around my neck
if it ain't gonna rain no more

Rich man drives a Cadillac
poor man drives a Ford
but my old man is satisfied
with fours wheels on a board

Oh, it ain't gonna rain no more, no more
It ain't gonna rain no more
How in the heck can I wash around my neck
if it ain't gonna rain no more

Well, you get the idea. My first car was a Rolls Canardly. It rolls down one side of the hill and canardly get up the other side!

Just kidding. It was a 21 Olds  and boy it was rough. Eventually we got her fixed up a bit so that the neighbors would quit singing the theme song to the Beverly Hillbillies every time we went by.

The neighbors still hooped an hollered when we went by. I even heard a few cat calls that sounded like someone was yelling, "Wheee doggies!." You probably think that I am just pulling your lariat about now.

I guess I am stretching the truth a touch so below is a photo of my first car.

Still kidding, I never had one of these. Anyone who knows me is aware that I would need two of these, one for each foot. Perhaps I will eventually get around to posting my actual 1st car. I drove a few of dad's before I ever had enough money to get one of my own. I think that the 64 Studebaker Lark was one of the most memorable. Dad was a rural route carrier for the Postal Service and his cars always looked like they sat outside with the windows left open during the great dust bowl. His route was almost all dirt roads. He would laugh when I asked to use it to go on a date. There was usually a full day event to shovel out the dirt and get it even semi-presentable for a date. That was the only time it got cleaned. You remember these wonderful vehicles don't you? Yessirree! It really impressed your date when you rolled up in this. It looked like this one replace the remaining paint with dusty black.

 Your date's father would typically say, "You the mailman's boy aren't you?" Everyone knew the vehicle so you couldn't get away with anything in this small town. Then I was lucky enough to get to drive a right hand drive Scout. What a chick magnet that was!

OK, I will give it up.

The 1st car I actually owned was a 67 Ford Custom I bought in 70. Dad helped me pick it out as he knew the previous owner. It was a base edition with a 240CID six, 3 on the tree, manual brakes/steering. You were not going racing in a full size vehicle with a six banger although it did OK when you were getting on the expressway and all. In many ways, I wish that I still own it as it was roomy, drove well, and decent on gas. It was a great car to double date in. I believe that my best friend got his wife-to-be pregnant in the back. You could disappear in the back seat and they did one evening or two while we were out "parking". You could also disappear in the front seat as the three on the tree did not get in the way. Gives a new meaning to the term, double dipping.

Cute Story

I love the delivery of the better speakers.

Woman allegedly beaten with frozen armadillo

Good thing it wasn't a frozen javalina or she could have been killed!Below is my favorite resipe for this tasty critter in case you happen to "run" across one either at the grocery store or on the highway. Just be sure to keep those rubber gloves on while cleaning them and don't forget to cook the daylights out of them to avoid mycobacterial leprosy. Mmmm, mmmm, mmmm, yummy!

ARMADILLO IN MUSTARD SAUCE INGREDIENTS:

1 1/4 cups dry white wine
1/2 cup oil
2 garlic cloves, crushed (optional)
1/4 cup butter
Salt and pepper to taste
1/2 tsp. thyme
1/2 tsp. rosemary
1 med. onion, sliced thin
1 armadillo, cleaned and cut into serving pieces
1 1/4 cups light cream
1 tbsp. brown mustard (e.g. Gulden's) or Poupon Dijon
1 tbsp. cornstarch

Directions:

Mix all ingredients of marinade and add armadillo. Marinate about 8 hrs., turning meat occasionally. Remove armadillo and reserve marinade.

Melt butter in deep skillet and brown armadillo pieces. Pour in marinade and bring to a boil. Stir in seasoning, cover and simmer until tender (about 1 - 1 1/4 hours.) Remove skillet from the fire and place armadillo pieces on a warmed platter.

Mix mustard and cornstarch, then mix in cream. Return skillet to low heat and stir in this mixture a little at a time. Stir sauce until hot, but not boiling, and thickened. Pour sauce over armadillo. Serve with steamed rice.

Firebird Raceway NHRA Nationals 2011

I have made my annual pilgrimage to Firebird for the drag races. I was surprised that it was switched this year to October. It hit 100 degrees so there were no really fast runs due to track temperatures but there were a lot of completed runs. It was a great, if hot, day! I like to roam the pits for a little it in the morning. No telling who might be around.

One must get the morning wafting of nitro-methane to energize the day!

Yes ladies, there are pink dragsters.

Self explanatory.

Wonder if those heads will fit the Bronco?

We counted 8 trailers for Force Racing. 

The Sarge.

And they're off!

A few videos are here for your viewing entertainment. The little camera does not do justice on the sound portion. I think that the camera shake is just the ground pounding vibration of top fuel. It couldn't be me.